Control

Control, Remedy’s 2019 Action Adventure, remains a demanding showcase for GPU and CPU interplay, and the pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 delivers a distinctly mixed bag depending on resolution and settings. The benchmark data shows this combo lands at rank 1237 out of 2888 tested combinations, placing it in the upper-middle tier of all systems tested. This is a configuration that can handle the game’s supernatural chaos, but it requires careful settings management to avoid dipping into sub-60 fps territory at higher resolutions. The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is a 24-core, 24-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake Refresh architecture, boosting up to 5.50 GHz, while the RTX 5060 brings 8 GB of GDDR7 memory and a 2280 MHz base clock. Together, they form a system where the GPU is the primary bottleneck at 4K, but the CPU’s strong single-threaded performance ensures that lower resolutions remain fluid.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s position of 1237 out of 2888 tested pairings indicates a solid, above-average performer for Control, though not a top-tier contender. This rank reflects the balance between a very capable CPU and a mid-range GPU. The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus sits in the 96th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 93785, which is nearly identical to the Intel Xeon 6520P’s 93786 (0% delta). It trails the AMD EPYC 4564P by 1.5% (95183 score) and the AMD EPYC 9175F by 1.9% (95615 score). This means the processor is not the limiting factor in most scenarios; it has ample headroom to feed the GPU. However, the RTX 5060’s 72nd percentile standing among all GPUs, with an average score of 26331, tells a different story. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon 860M (26401, -0.3% delta), NVIDIA GeForce MX550 (26421, -0.3% delta), and AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary (26553, -0.8% delta), while the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT sits 1.2% higher. The data suggests that in Control, this combo’s rank is dragged down by the GPU’s performance ceiling, especially at 4K where the RTX 5060’s 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory bus become evident. The 2888-combo pool includes systems with far stronger GPUs, so landing at 1237 is respectable but indicates that users should temper expectations for maximum settings at high resolutions. The gap between the CPU’s top-tier percentile and the GPU’s mid-range percentile is the defining characteristic of this pairing.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture with the GB206 chip, fabricated on a 5 nm process at TSMC. It features 3840 shading units, 120 TMUs, and 48 ROPs, with 30 RT cores and 120 tensor cores. The GPU’s memory configuration is 8 GB of GDDR7 on a 128-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. The base clock is 2280 MHz with a boost clock of 2497 MHz, and memory runs at 1750 MHz (28 Gbps effective). These specs explain the measured performance in Control. The 8 GB VRAM is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but at 3840x2160 with High or Ultra settings, the game’s texture and geometry demands can strain the memory capacity. The data shows that at 4K, average FPS drops from 76 at Low to 42 at Ultra, a steep decline that points to the GPU’s fillrate and bandwidth limits rather than CPU constraints. The RTX 5060’s FP32 performance of 19.18 TFLOPS and texture rate of 299.6 GTexel/s are adequate for Control’s particle effects and destructible environments, but the 48 ROPs limit pixel throughput, which is critical at higher resolutions. The GPU’s 145 W TDP and dual-slot design are modest, but the 1x 8-pin power connector and 300 W suggested PSU indicate it is not a power-hungry part. In Control, the RTX 5060’s role is clear: it handles 1080p and 1440p with authority, but at 4K, it becomes the bottleneck, with the gap between Low and Ultra settings narrowing as the resolution increases. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3628 and PassMark G3D score of 20891 reinforce that this is a mainstream GPU, not a high-end 4K solution. The data indicates that the RTX 5060’s strengths lie in its modern architecture and GDDR7 memory, but its 128-bit bus and 8 GB capacity are limiting factors in a game like Control that pushes visual fidelity.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS across resolutions reveals a clear scaling pattern that defines the system’s behavior. At 1080p, the combo delivers strong performance across all settings: Low averages 149 FPS, Medium 106 FPS, High 94 FPS, and Ultra 82 FPS. Moving to 1440p, the averages drop to 113 FPS at Low, 80 FPS at Medium, 71 FPS at High, and 62 FPS at Ultra. At 4K, the numbers fall further: 76 FPS at Low, 54 FPS at Medium, 48 FPS at High, and 42 FPS at Ultra. The percentage drops from 1080p to 4K are substantial: Low settings drop from 149 to 76 FPS, a 49% reduction; Medium drops from 106 to 54 FPS, a 49.1% reduction; High drops from 94 to 48 FPS, a 48.9% reduction; and Ultra drops from 82 to 42 FPS, a 48.8% reduction. These consistent ~49% drops across all settings indicate that the limiting component scales uniformly with resolution, which is the GPU. The CPU, with its 24 cores and 5.50 GHz boost clock, is not the constraint here. The data shows that the RTX 5060’s performance halves when pixel count quadruples, which is expected for a GPU with 48 ROPs and 448 GB/s bandwidth. At 1080p, the CPU’s strong single-threaded performance (Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2439) allows the GPU to stretch its legs, achieving 149 FPS at Low. At 4K, however, the GPU’s fillrate limits become dominant, and even the fastest CPU cannot compensate. The scaling behavior suggests that for users targeting 1440p, the combo is well-balanced, but for 4K, only Low settings approach playable frame rates. The 1440p to 4K drop is steeper than the 1080p to 1440p drop, indicating that the GPU’s memory bandwidth and ROP count are the key bottlenecks at higher pixel densities. This is a classic mid-range GPU pattern, where the RTX 5060’s 128-bit bus struggles to feed the pixel pipeline at 4K.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed picture of performance at each resolution and settings level. At 1920x1080, the combo starts at 149 FPS on Low settings, which is excellent for high-refresh-rate monitors. Medium settings drop to 106 FPS, with a minimum of 90 FPS and maximum of 122 FPS, indicating some frame pacing variability but still smooth gameplay. High settings yield 94 FPS average, while Ultra brings it down to 82 FPS. At 1080p, all settings are playable, with even Ultra maintaining above 60 FPS. At 2560x1440, the performance remains respectable: Low settings average 113 FPS, Medium 80 FPS (with a minimum of 68 FPS and maximum of 92 FPS), High 71 FPS, and Ultra 62 FPS. The 1440p Ultra result of 62 FPS is right at the edge of the 60 FPS threshold, making it viable for users who prioritize visual quality over headroom. The minimum FPS data for Medium at 1440p (68 FPS) suggests that even in demanding scenes, the system holds up well. At 3840x2160, the situation changes dramatically. Low settings average 76 FPS, which is playable, but Medium drops to 54 FPS (with a minimum of 46 FPS and maximum of 62 FPS), High falls to 48 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 42 FPS. The 4K Medium minimum of 46 FPS indicates noticeable stutter in intense combat sequences. The data shows that 4K is only viable on Low settings, and even then, the 76 FPS average is not far above the 60 FPS line. The jump from Low to Medium at 4K costs 22 FPS (76 to 54), which is a 28.9% drop, while the jump from Medium to High costs 6 FPS (54 to 48), and High to Ultra costs another 6 FPS (48 to 42). This diminishing returns pattern indicates that the GPU’s pixel throughput is saturated at 4K, and the difference between High and Ultra is less impactful than the Low to Medium jump. The minimum FPS data, where available, shows that the system maintains reasonable frame times at Medium settings across all resolutions, but at 4K, the minimum of 46 FPS at Medium is below the ideal 60 FPS threshold.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and display refresh rate. For 1080p, Ultra settings are the clear choice, as the 82 FPS average is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides the best visual fidelity. The jump from High (94 FPS) to Ultra (82 FPS) costs 12 FPS but delivers the full visual experience. For users with 144Hz or higher refresh rate displays, High settings at 94 FPS offer a smoother experience, but Ultra remains viable. At 1440p, Ultra settings at 62 FPS are borderline; the average is above 60 FPS, but the lack of minimum FPS data for Ultra means there could be dips below 60 in heavy scenes. Medium settings at 80 FPS provide a safer margin, with a recorded minimum of 68 FPS and maximum of 92 FPS, ensuring consistent frame rates. High settings at 71 FPS strike a balance between visual quality and performance, but Medium’s minimum FPS data (68) makes it the most reliable choice for smooth gameplay. For 4K, the recommendations are more restrictive. Low settings at 76 FPS are the only option for a consistently playable experience, as Medium (54 FPS average, 46 FPS minimum) and High (48 FPS) fall below the 60 FPS threshold. Ultra at 42 FPS is not recommended for action-heavy gameplay. The data suggests that this combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where it can handle Ultra settings with playable frame rates. At 4K, users must sacrifice visual quality to Low settings to maintain performance. The measured FPS breakdown shows that the sweet spot is 1440p Medium, which offers a good balance of visual fidelity and frame rate stability, with the minimum FPS of 68 ensuring that even the most chaotic scenes in Control’s Oldest House remain fluid. For users who prioritize frame rate over visuals, 1080p Low at 149 FPS is the fastest configuration, but the visual downgrade is significant.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus plays a supporting role in this combo, but its capabilities are crucial for achieving the higher frame rates seen at 1080p. The CPU features 24 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. It is built on a 3 nm process at TSMC, with 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. The cache hierarchy includes 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. This configuration delivers strong multi-threaded and single-threaded performance, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 scores: 44253 multi-core and 2439 single-core. The PassMark multi-thread score of 68574 and single-thread score of 5068 further confirm its capability. In Control, which is not heavily multi-threaded but benefits from strong single-core performance, the CPU’s 5.50 GHz boost clock ensures that the GPU is not starved of data. The data shows that at 1080p, the combo achieves 149 FPS at Low settings, which is a CPU-limited scenario in many games, but here it indicates the CPU can handle the game’s physics and AI systems without bottlenecking the RTX 5060. The CPU’s 96th percentile ranking among all CPUs, with a delta of 0% against the Intel Xeon 6520P and -1.5% against the AMD EPYC 4564P, shows it is competitive with server-grade parts in synthetic benchmarks. However, the 24 cores and 24 threads are overkill for Control, which likely uses fewer threads, but the high boost clock is what matters. The CPU’s memory support for DDR5 with dual-channel bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s ensures that the GPU has fast access to textures and geometry data. The integrated Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU is not relevant for gaming with a discrete GPU, but it adds flexibility. The CPU’s launch MSRP of $299 positions it as a mid-range part, and its 125 W TDP is manageable. In this combo, the CPU’s role is to provide consistent frame delivery, especially at lower resolutions where the GPU has headroom. The measured FPS at 1080p High (94 FPS) and Ultra (82 FPS) show that the CPU can maintain high frame rates without becoming a bottleneck. Even at 1440p, where the GPU is more stressed, the CPU’s performance ensures that frame times remain stable. The data indicates that the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is more than sufficient for Control, and users could pair it with a stronger GPU for higher 4K performance without needing to upgrade the CPU. The CPU’s 24 threads and 5.50 GHz boost clock make it a future-proof choice, but for this specific game, its role is to enable the RTX 5060 to reach its full potential at 1080p and 1440p.